Obituaries

Funeral services for Irene Sallie Merritt, a lifelong Caney, OK area resident, were held Monday, May 1, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Atoka Funeral Chapel with Bro.Jerry Richard officiating. Burial was in High Hill Cemetery in Atoka with Brown’s Funeral Service of Atoka in charge of arrangements.Ms.

Graveside services for Alvin Wayne Johnson, a Coalgate resident, were held Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Lehigh Cemetery in Lehigh, OK with Bro. Eddie Hogue officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Service of Coalgate.Mr.

Michael Eugene Gerhards, a Coalgate resident, was born on May 1, 1958, to John Frank and Laura June (Welty) Gerhards, at Terre Haute, IN. He passed away on April 1, 2023 at Denton, TX at the age of 64 years and 11 months. Michael was a gandy dancer for the Union Pacific Railroad.

Funeral services for Odis Elgin Shipman, a Coalgate resident, will be held Wednesday, (today), April 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Coalgate Methodist Church with Pastor Lyle Shipley officiating. Burial will be in Lehigh Cemetery with Brown’s Funeral Service of Coalgate in charge of arrangements.Mr.

Roy Olen McKeen, age 45, an Atoka, OK resident, was born on Tuesday, July 12, 1977, to Roy Lee and Violet Faye (Russell) McKeen, at Muskogee, OK. Roy passed away on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Atoka, OK. He graduated with the Coalgate High School Class of ‘96.

Funeral services for Travis “Bubba” James Pryor II, a Tupelo resident, will be held Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Stonewall First Baptist Church with Micah Alford officiating, assisted by Bro. Richard Dickerson.

Our sympathy is extended to the family of Lewie Paul FortnerFuneral services for Lewie Paul Fortner, 87, Tupelo, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 19 at the First Baptist Church in Tupelo. Interment will follow at the Byrds Prairie Cemetery in Tupelo.

Our sympathy is extended to the family of Shanelle WattsFuneral services for Shanelle Ellen (Baxter) Watts, a Coalgate resident, were held Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Cottonwood School Gymnasium in Cottonwood with Adam Canler officiating assisted by Abe Hershberger and Ed Schrock.

Larry Edward McCorkle, a resident of Marshfield, Missouri passed away April 7, 2023 at the age of 78.  Memorial service was held April 11, 2023 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Marshfield, Missouri, with Bishop Richard Shockley officiating.

Services for Lowell Dean Stephens, 88, of Ada were Saturday, April 1, 2023 at the Criswell Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. Travis Muse officiated. Burial followed at Rosedale Cemetery.Mr. Stephens passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Oklahoma City, OK.